Ireland turn on the style to win series by largest recorded aggregate

Ireland 55 (1-13-10) Australia41 (0-13-2)

By compressing the best of their first test form into the crucial third quarter, they frustrated Australia in their bid to build on an interval lead of three points and salvage some pride in Croke Park yesterday.

The end result was the biggest aggregate win in the series so far, twice the margin achieved by Brian McEniff's team in Australia three years ago in Ireland's last victory.

It was appropriate in the circumstances to see an Irish captain lift the Cormac McAnallen trophy, given the huge contribution the late, lamented Tyrone star had made over the last three series.

On the day, whatever possibility there was of the Australians actually winning the game, there was never the slightest doubt that it would be

Padraic Joyce who would receive the cup from Association president Sean Kelly.

Commenting that the game had been as physical and intense as he had anticipated, McGrath admitted to being a little concerned at half-time, feeling that his team's runaway victory a week ago had induced 'a comfort zone.'

As he put it, 'a lot of consciences were examined' during the break. And, having been asked to put in a major effort in the third quarter, his players got back to the way they had been playing in the first test.

"The game was probably won in that quarter," he added.

The Australian manager Gary Lyon praised his team for a brave performance, but he felt they should have had a bigger lead at half-time.

They had set out to deny the Irish players time and space on the ball, he said, and 'did that superbly well'.

He was also delighted with the improvement in their tackling.

However, like McGrath, he accepted that they lost whatever chance of winning they had when 'the game split open' and they lost the initiative.

The start of the game was preceded by a minor brawl when Kieran McDonald and Tadhg Kennelly were singled out by a group of players including Australian reserves in tracksuits.

However, while there were several other minor skirmishes, it was largely contested in a sporting manner in front of a massive crowd of over 60,000.

In general, players on both sides were prepared to take as many heavy tackles as were dished out and, in this context, it was particularly a tribute to the Irish players that they had the fitness and the strength to sustain their effort throughout the four quarters.

The first quarter was very closely contested, indicated by the fact that the Australians were level on 12 points at the end of it, compared to being 28-5 in arrears at the same stage last week. The explanation for the improvement was twofold: a 100% improvement on their tackling and significantly better use of the ball, with top forward Nathan Brown prominent in the early stages. Also, finishing with a highly creditable 21 points (to add to 17 he scored in the first test), he was to be the mainstay of their attack all through.

Improving Irish play, seen through the efforts of inter-change players James Nallen and Mattie Forde and the greater influence of McDonald, had the added effect of preventing Australia from being further ahead at half-time than by three points, 26-23.

Padraic Joyce was to make a major contribution to Ireland's dominance over the third quarter after moving to centre-forward.

Coulter, a much improved Paul Galvin and Dessie Dolan on occasions were also prominent, but the outstanding Kennelly remained the team's most consistent ball-winner and exerted a considerable influence. Sean Cavanagh, too, was seen at his best at midfield.

Ó hAilpín was to turn in another superb performance, which belied his inexperience of the game. Goalkeeper Cluxton excelled, as did team-mate Bryan Cullen.

Graham Canty was once more commanding at the edge of the square and Sean Marty Lockhart was another to put his vast experience to valuable use.

The cumulative effect of the team's improved play was a nine points advantage at the end of the third quarter (44-35), a margin enhanced by Joyce scoring the only goal of the game midway through.

Scorers: Ireland P. Joyce 13, T. Kennelly 9, S. Cavanagh, B. Coulter and A. Brogan 6 each, M. Forde, P. Galvin, D. Dolan and E. Brosnan 3 each, T. Kelly 2, C. McManus 1.

Australia: N. Brown 21, A. Jones and N. Riewoldt 6 each J. Bolton and L. Ball 3 each, N. Dal Santo and J. Corey 1 each.

IRELAND: S. Cluxton; S. Og O hAilpin, G. Canty, S. M. Lockhart; B. Cullen, T. Kelly, C. McManus; J. Bergin, S. Cavanagh; P. Galvin, K. McDonald, T. Kennelly; D. Dolan, P. Joyce (capt.), B. Coulter.

Inter-Change: J. Nallen, A. Brogan, E. Brosnan, D. Browne, M. Forde, D. Heaney, M. McGrath, B. McGuigan.

AUSTRALIA: M. Michael; B. Kirk, C. Bolton, A. Jones; C. Bruce, D. Solomon, B. Rawlings; J. Hird (capt.), N. Riewoldt; J. Corey, L. Ball, N. Dal Santo; A. Didad, N. Brown, A. Embley.

Inter-Change: M. Hudghton, M. McVeigh, J. Bowden, B . Green, M. Braun, J. Bolton, A. McPhee, R. Haddrill.

Referees: M. Collins (Ireland) and S. McBurney (Australia).

*Att: 60,515.